Intra-office IM?

[jst0ney]

I am working at a small office (15 employees, 20 workstations) with a network running Windows Server 2k3 but not exchange. We are looking for a good piece of software for instant messaging. Do you know of any?

 

[Smilin]

Live Communications Server 2005 Standard Edition.

It will need to be on it's own server (don't co-host with your DC) but the hardware requirements will be trivial and the software licensing should be far cheaper than the hardware. It can also run in a VM and support up to 500 users.

What it does that others don't:
End to end encryption and **security**. Message archiving for SOX compliance. Supports remote users (need an LCS access proxy server in your DMZ). Supports PIC connectivity. This allows you to talk with all AOL, MSN, and Yahoo! users while maintaining encryption, security and audit trails (the consumer version of these services does not offer the same). Works with Communicator and Windows Messenger 5.1 (you already own).

Eval version are available.

I support it so fire away with any questions.


Home page:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/communicationsserver/FX101729111033.aspx

Deployment guides and resources:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX011526591033.aspx

Feature guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta...-4F6D-8397-58105013CEFD&displaylang=en

 

[Looney]

Jabber

EDIT: crap, didn't notice you're using Windows. Well, MSN has a business version i believe.

 

[jst0ney]

Originally posted by: Smilin
Live Communications Server 2005 Standard Edition.

It will need to be on it's own server (don't co-host with your DC) but the hardware requirements will be trivial and the software licensing should be far cheaper than the hardware. It can also run in a VM and support up to 500 users.

What it does that others don't:
End to end encryption and **security**. Message archiving for SOX compliance. Supports remote users (need an LCS access proxy server in your DMZ). Supports PIC connectivity. This allows you to talk with all AOL, MSN, and Yahoo! users while maintaining encryption, security and audit trails (the consumer version of these services does not offer the same). Works with Communicator and Windows Messenger 5.1 (you already own).

Eval version are available.

I support it so fire away with any questions.


Home page:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/communicationsserver/FX101729111033.aspx

Deployment guides and resources:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX011526591033.aspx

Feature guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta...-4F6D-8397-58105013CEFD&displaylang=en

Looks good but its a little beyond what we need. We just need to send a quick IM every-once-in-awhile. We will only have about 15 people on and never more than 2 people chatting at once.

 

[tranceport]

Email ftw!


lol..

 

[EagleKeeper]

Set up a small inexpensive Linux jabber server.

There are Jabber window clients.

All is open source/freeware.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

why not just use windows messenger or MSN messenger and use it over the internet. for 15 people it would be better to do this instead of spending money on it.

 

[jst0ney]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
why not just use windows messenger or MSN messenger and use it over the internet. for 15 people it would be better to do this instead of spending money on it.

not everyone has internet access

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

http://www.liquidcs.com/Welcome.php?id=40&gclid=CPqCw9Pj5YkCFTBcFQod9jinJQ

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Smilin
Live Communications Server 2005 Standard Edition.

It will need to be on it's own server (don't co-host with your DC) but the hardware requirements will be trivial and the software licensing should be far cheaper than the hardware. It can also run in a VM and support up to 500 users.

What it does that others don't:
End to end encryption and **security**. Message archiving for SOX compliance. Supports remote users (need an LCS access proxy server in your DMZ). Supports PIC connectivity. This allows you to talk with all AOL, MSN, and Yahoo! users while maintaining encryption, security and audit trails (the consumer version of these services does not offer the same). Works with Communicator and Windows Messenger 5.1 (you already own).

Eval version are available.

I support it so fire away with any questions.


Home page:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/communicationsserver/FX101729111033.aspx

Deployment guides and resources:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX011526591033.aspx

Feature guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta...-4F6D-8397-58105013CEFD&displaylang=en

Yep, LCS is pretty nice, but I think it may be overkill for him. We're using LCS and I really like it.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: jst0ney

Looks good but its a little beyond what we need. We just need to send a quick IM every-once-in-awhile. We will only have about 15 people on and never more than 2 people chatting at once.

Try this. Should fit all the business requirements and the cost to implement is extremely low.

 

[BurnItDwn]

We use Jabber here, it works great.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Smilin
Live Communications Server 2005 Standard Edition.

It will need to be on it's own server (don't co-host with your DC) but the hardware requirements will be trivial and the software licensing should be far cheaper than the hardware. It can also run in a VM and support up to 500 users.

What it does that others don't:
End to end encryption and **security**. Message archiving for SOX compliance. Supports remote users (need an LCS access proxy server in your DMZ). Supports PIC connectivity. This allows you to talk with all AOL, MSN, and Yahoo! users while maintaining encryption, security and audit trails (the consumer version of these services does not offer the same). Works with Communicator and Windows Messenger 5.1 (you already own).

Eval version are available.

I support it so fire away with any questions.


Home page:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/communicationsserver/FX101729111033.aspx

Deployment guides and resources:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX011526591033.aspx

Feature guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta...-4F6D-8397-58105013CEFD&displaylang=en

Yep, LCS is pretty nice, but I think it may be overkill for him. We're using LCS and I really like it.

yeah, may be overkill.

I'm glad you guys are digging it though!

You guys using the whole thing? Communicator Web Access, PIC (aol, msn, yahoo), Intelligent IM filter (free add-on)?

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: Smilin

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Smilin
Live Communications Server 2005 Standard Edition.

It will need to be on it's own server (don't co-host with your DC) but the hardware requirements will be trivial and the software licensing should be far cheaper than the hardware. It can also run in a VM and support up to 500 users.

What it does that others don't:
End to end encryption and **security**. Message archiving for SOX compliance. Supports remote users (need an LCS access proxy server in your DMZ). Supports PIC connectivity. This allows you to talk with all AOL, MSN, and Yahoo! users while maintaining encryption, security and audit trails (the consumer version of these services does not offer the same). Works with Communicator and Windows Messenger 5.1 (you already own).

Eval version are available.

I support it so fire away with any questions.


Home page:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/communicationsserver/FX101729111033.aspx

Deployment guides and resources:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX011526591033.aspx

Feature guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta...-4F6D-8397-58105013CEFD&displaylang=en

Yep, LCS is pretty nice, but I think it may be overkill for him. We're using LCS and I really like it.

yeah, may be overkill.

I'm glad you guys are digging it though!

You guys using the whole thing? Communicator Web Access, PIC (aol, msn, yahoo), Intelligent IM filter (free add-on)?

We also piloted LCS in our organization. We were part of the private beta for RTC 2007, but we haven't had the time or resource to implement it.

 

[jst0ney]

those of you using jabber, did you have to setup a server or does it work sans server?

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
We also piloted LCS in our organization. We were part of the private beta for RTC 2007, but we haven't had the time or resource to implement it.

Get on it man! The beta 3 bits just got released a couple days ago to the connect website. A lot of the features have fallen into place in beta 3 and it's starting to look good. Ping Nick if your access has lapsed.

I'm one of your RTC Beta engineers btw. I'm one of those invisible guys who answer questions on the newsgroups + take cases + file bugs.

 

[totalcommand]

gmail?

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Smilin

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Smilin
Live Communications Server 2005 Standard Edition.

It will need to be on it's own server (don't co-host with your DC) but the hardware requirements will be trivial and the software licensing should be far cheaper than the hardware. It can also run in a VM and support up to 500 users.

What it does that others don't:
End to end encryption and **security**. Message archiving for SOX compliance. Supports remote users (need an LCS access proxy server in your DMZ). Supports PIC connectivity. This allows you to talk with all AOL, MSN, and Yahoo! users while maintaining encryption, security and audit trails (the consumer version of these services does not offer the same). Works with Communicator and Windows Messenger 5.1 (you already own).

Eval version are available.

I support it so fire away with any questions.


Home page:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/communicationsserver/FX101729111033.aspx

Deployment guides and resources:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX011526591033.aspx

Feature guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta...-4F6D-8397-58105013CEFD&displaylang=en

Yep, LCS is pretty nice, but I think it may be overkill for him. We're using LCS and I really like it.

yeah, may be overkill.

I'm glad you guys are digging it though!

You guys using the whole thing? Communicator Web Access, PIC (aol, msn, yahoo), Intelligent IM filter (free add-on)?

Well I found LCS to be cool and looks great, but the features like AOL/MSN/Yahoo messaging come at an extra price. Am I correct on that?

 

[Smilin]

PIC connectivity costs just $1 per user per month. It covers the costs of running the cloud infrastructure.

 

[swtethan]

Originally posted by: totalcommand
gmail?

DING DING DING!

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Smilin
PIC connectivity costs just $1 per user per month. It covers the costs of running the cloud infrastructure.

Exactly. And we have 2000 users so the higher ups aren't too excited about $2000/m.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Smilin
PIC connectivity costs just $1 per user per month. It covers the costs of running the cloud infrastructure.

Exactly. And we have 2000 users so the higher ups aren't too excited about $2000/m.

You actually need all 2000 PIC enabled though? You don't have to activate everyone.